Memes in the ELA Classroom

It is rather evident that most teens are well-versed in the
art of snarky comments sarcasm.
In fact, we might even be able to assert that verbal irony might be their
first language with English coming in as a close second language to most of them :). As we were studying The Crucible this month, I needed to review irony before state
testing rolls around in December, but I needed something quick and fresh to use. I also wanted them to have a fun and challenging out-of-class
project. I mentioned in my last post,
where I shared some memes that I had created for fun while I anxiously await
the release of the next HG movie installment, that I had decided to task my
students with creating memes for The
Crucible. The result was a short review lesson on the three types of irony
and the challenge of

creating a meme that stayed “inside the text.” After the short lecture, I gave students a
simple chart for them to note irony in the play. It was sort of a scavenger
hunt through the acts to find examples of the three types of irony. Ultimately,
this exercise was a form of brainstorming for the project and inspired their
memes to come from within the text. This
activity is definitely worth the time spent, and if you are thinking your students
might love it as well, consider these factors as part of the rationale for incorporating
it into your lesson.

1) Modern – I never want to think I’m
an “old fogey” when it comes to my classroom, but I know that sometimes I do
tend to stick to some traditional methods, assignments, and projects. This was
one activity I felt 100% good about that was new and fresh but still very
grounded in standards.

2) Meaningful – There is only so much
time to cover material and standards each semester before state testing rolls
around. It’s always weighing on my mind when I plan that I only have limited opportunities with my students, so I always ask
myself when I start an activity, “What are they really going to get out of this?”. This project blended perfectly with
my Crucible unit, it was text-based,
and I was able to put a check by CC RL.11-12.6.

3) Great for all levels of learners –
No matter if it was my honor students or regular education students, this
project was designed for them all to be successful and have fun. It does require access to technology, which
thankfully our school has several computer labs open in the morning and
afternoon. So, my students who didn’t have it at home could do the activity at
school. Additionally, it offers differentiation
in the sense that students who needed to stick to the basics could use the
memes from the meme generator site, while others could go above and beyond
using images and ideas of their own.

4) Quick and Easy Yet Challenging –
Once students completed the scavenger hunt and had a grasp on the irony in the play, they were
able to generate their meme in 10 minutes or less, copy it to Google Docs,
write a statement about it, share it with me, and voila! The project is complete. Several students even did more than one– so loved that!!

5) Great Display – I always like to hang student work in my
classroom and outside my door. Now admin, teachers, parents, and other students
can chuckle to themselves as they walk past my door. Plus, the students in my
classes are really enjoying see each other’s creations! Not to mention, that it
is a great review after we have completed the play!

Want to see some of the results of my students’ creativity? I love how much depth these show of their understanding of the layers within the play…. *bursting with teacher pride*!